Aug 31, 2006

Will Dr Mahathir be allowed to speak at UMNO General Assembly?Click to listen to interview

The upcoming November UMNO general assembly in Malaysia could bring the spat between Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi's government and his predecessor Dr Mahathir Mohamad to a new level, if the former Prime Minister is allowed to address the assembly.

While both Prime Minister Badawi and UMNO’s Supreme Council have decided not to oppose Dr Mahathir’s bid to speak, he has not yet been granted formal approval to take the floor.

So what are his chances of being allowed to address the governing body of Malaysia’s ruling party?

Joel Chua spoke with Dr. Zakaria Haj Ahmad from the HELP University College in Malaysia for more.

ZA: Certainly Dr Mahathir stands a good chance of speaking at the Assembly. But it is somewhat unusual for a former president (of UMNO) to be present at this meeting in that capacity. Even if the procedures are laid out where a limited number of speakers are allowed to speak, in this case I think the party leadership would find it very difficult to refuse Dr Mahathir to speak.

If given the opportunity to address the UMNO assembly, do you think Dr Mahathir will likely continue his attacks or could he take a different approach?

ZA: Dr Mahathir has been known to be very outspoken and forward, he doesn’t hold his punches. So if he speaks he definitely will deliver many messages. I’m not sure if it will be confrontational but if he is allowed to speak, my guess is that he will want to review many of the government’s policies, especially with regard to the policies that he himself had initiated and have clearly been revoked.

Do you think Dr Mahathir’s very confrontational approach will eventually backfire on him?

ZA: Dr Mahathir is a fighter. He is confrontational, yes. But in the past, some have pointed out, he has won every bout whenever there was a challenge to him. In this case it all depends on political climate and the nature of the divisions within the party. So that’s the situation I think we will see.

These divisions within the party that you’re talking about, UMNO has unreservedly given its support to the Badawi government. However there are obviously some quarters in UMNO that support Dr Mahathir. Who are these people and why do they support him?

ZA: Malaysian politics is very complex and many things are not exactly how they appear. So from that standpoint, when an incumbent is in power, all support will be voiced in his favour. But clearly there are divisions.

What do you think Dr Mahathir stands to lose or gain depending on how this fight turns out?

ZA: At the moment Dr Mahathir has nothing to lose. Whether or not he will gain is difficult to say. But the point is that he has left a legacy and that is being pulled aside or being replaced. So this is what we have to take into consideration. Not just in terms of the physical edifices he has built but also in terms of his ideas. This is the great situation and challenge that we see. It’s puzzling in some ways but in other ways it is quite fathomable.

Do people support Dr Mahathir because of him being a figurehead and the historic role he’s played in Malaysia or do they objectively support his criticism of the government?

ZA: I think many people are caught (in the middle). It’s not a question of whether you support Mahathir or not. It’s just that people have a certain view of him and he has left the scene and no longer in power. So the question is if he can now be considered an elder statesman and do you then give him the kind of respect and deference or do you want to criticize the man. But I think a lot of people are perplexed if not finding themselves in a very difficult position in terms of their views on the man.

There are reports that PM Badawi might call for early elections next year. How will the outcome of the UMNO general assembly likely impact these elections?

ZA: If you look at it over a period of time the ruling party is strong, so it’s not likely to lose. It’s a matter of the number of seats they win or lose. It is very hard to find grievances with the government. They could be just two separate events altogether.

And that was Dr. Zakaria Haj Ahmad from the HELP University College speaking with Joel Chua.

I can foresee the ending of this case just like any other cases in Malaysia. First someone will make a noise in Parliament, then everyone will be talking about the video and finally towards the end, the blame will be on the person that brought up the issue in parliament and the person who shot this video and also made a bribe to the policeman. While the actual policeman that took the bribe will not be even all the center of the commotion.

Sounds familiar?

By the way, Happy 49th Birthday MALAYSIA.

Excerpt from MalaysiaKiniVideo phones are becoming the bane of the police force. Clip after clip of police misconduct have been exposed over the past months though this new technology.

Now, a new clip has surfaced on the broadcast website YouTube. The clip purportedly shows a traffic policeman accepting bribe from a motorist.

The three-minute clip, allegedly filmed on July 12, 2003, also displays the words ‘Anti-Corruption Avengers’.

In the incident, a traffic policeman on a motorbike flags down a motorist who is spotted speaking on his mobile phone while driving.

He then whips out his summons book and proceeds to tell the motorist that he has committed an offence and can be issued a summon for RM300.

The driver, who claims that it was an emergency call from his boss, pleads with the policeman to be let off the hook.

“I am broke this month. Please sir, I don’t have that kind of money. Help me sir, this is my first offence,” he tells the policeman, who replies: “How can I help you, this is a serious matter... RM300 fine.”

The driver continues to plead, saying he was only talking briefly on the mobile phone but the policeman tells him that even a brief conversation is against the law.How to settle?

Following this, policeman says, “I can help you but how do you want to settle this?”

When the driver says he is sorry and that he does not have much money, the policeman replies that an apology alone will not be sufficient.

The driver then offers RM50 to the policeman, saying: “This is all I have, please let’s settle this. If I have the money I would pay the summon, but I don’t have money this month.”

The policeman relents. “Okay, Okay, put it (the money) under the licence,” he tells the driver, who readily obliges.

After looking around, the policeman takes the money and returns the driving license to the grateful driver and tells him: “Don’t do it (talking on the phone and driving) again. Good evening”. [See video]

Although the authenticity of the video-clip cannot be ascertained, corruption has always been cited as a major problem in the police force.

Aug 30, 2006

Extracted from BERNAMAMan Arrested While Trying To Hand Over Memo To PM

PORT DICKSON, Aug 30 (Bernama) -- Police arrested a middle-aged man when he tried to hand over a "memorandum" to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah during an official gathering here Tuesday.

The man was immediately taken to the Port Dickson district police station for questioning but it was not immediately clear if he was detained.

"We will have to make further investigations," Port Dickson district police chief Supt Mazlan Othman told reporters here.

He declined to revealed the man's identity or the contents of the memorandum.

The incident happened at the launching of the "Rapat Bestari Kebangsaan" programme, which was officiated by Abdullah. The function was telecast live on RTM 1.

According to eye witnesses, the smartly attired man suddenly walked up to the podium where Abdullah was seated with several other national leaders and tried to hand over an envelope containing the memorandum to the Prime Minister.

He was about two metres away from Abdullah when policemen and Abdullah's bodyguards intercepted him.

A minor commotion ensued and he was eventually overpowered. He was heard shouting, "Don't hit me, I am an old man. Save Tanjung Tuan!" causing his denture to fall off.

Information Minister Datuk Zainuddin Maidin, whose speech was briefly interrupted by the commotion, then continued addressing the crowd.

It was not immediately clear how Abdullah had reacted to the incident.

Some 10,000 people who attended the function witnessed the incident.-- BERNAMA

Extracted from TheStarEx-PM a delegate at assembly ‘against Malay culture’

KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad must think carefully before offering himself as a delegate at the next Umno general assembly.

Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said never in history had a former prime minister been among the delegates.

“This goes against the values and principles of how we were brought up and the Malay culture itself,” he said after launching the National Language and Literature Month 2006 yesterday.

The former prime minister and ex-Umno president said recently that he wanted to be a delegate at the general assembly and hoped to be given an opportunity to speak.

He said the Umno general assembly would be attended by members, observers from other races and foreigners.

“I am worried and sad that if Tun Dr Mahathir is there, it will affect the position of the Malays and even his position as we are being observed by the world, other races and Malays who are not Umno members.”

In Kuala Nerang, Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Mahdzir Khalid said if Dr Mahathir wanted to speak at the assembly, he would have to contest for a division delegates' post.

“It is not appropriate for a former premier with international recognition to contest against ordinary members for such a post,” he told newsmen yesterday.

Aug 29, 2006

Excerpt from MalaysiaKiniNearly 60 percent of Umno branches in Kedah's Kubang Pasu division have nominated former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad to contest to be a delegate for this November’s Umno annual general assembly.

According to a Kubang Pasu Umno committee member, Mahathir and his son, Mukhriz, are currently the hot favourites in the division's Sept 9 election.

He said 79 out of the 136 branches in the division have nominated Mahathir, who helmed Umno and the country for 22 years.

The committee member, who declined to be named, said this information was based on the list of candidates submitted to the division’s secretariat.

A total of 17 candidates - including Mahathir and Mukhriz (right) - have confirmed their decision to contest.

Each division will send 13 delegates, of which seven are chosen during the division meet to be held in two weeks. These delegates are known as G7.

The remaining delegates, or G6, are automatically selected by virtue of their posts in the division. These include the division chief, deputy chief, secretary as well as the Wanita, Youth and Puteri heads.

“Up to now, Mahathir and Mukhriz are the favourites in the contest which will be decided at the Kubang Pasu meeting on Sept 9,” said the committee member.

Mahathir, who hails from Kedah, was the former Kubang Pasu Umno division chief and parliamentarian.

Extracted from NSTCHANGLUN: "We respect you as a leader but we disagree with your decision to be a delegate at the party’s general assembly."

That was the sentiment of 32 Umno branches in the Kubang Pasu division over Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s intention to represent the division at the general assembly in November.

Mohd Yusof Jamaludin, a spokesman for the 32 branches, said Dr Mahathir should withdraw from contesting a delegate’s post to protect his dignity as former prime minister, Umno president and chairman of the division.

"Even if he contests, we cannot promise he would be chosen," he said.

The contest to select seven delegates will be held on Sept 9.

He suggested Dr Mahathir find another channel to raise his concerns about the party and Government.

"We regret Tun Dr Mahathir’s decision to contest since it would mean bringing himself down to a delegate’s level," Yusof, who is also Kampung Belukar/Bendang Ceruk Umno branch chairman, said.

The 32 branches are considered the most influential among the 146 in the Kubang Pasu Umno division.

JITRA, Aug 28 (Bernama) -- The Umno Youth of the Kubang Pasu Division Monday denied approving a resolution calling for the sacking of Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz from the party and Cabinet.

Its vice-head Ismail Khamis said the division did not debate the resolution on the matter but it had come up in the resolutions of five branches that had wanted Mohamed Nazri to be sacked from Umno and two others that had called for his removal from the Cabinet.

"We never approved the resolution as published by the media," he told a press conference at the Kubang Pasu Umno office, here.

He said the movement had received many calls after the media published a report claiming that the division had approved a resolution calling for the removal of Mohamed Nazri from his positions.

Ismail said only three resolutions, on politics, the economy and religion, were debated and approved by the Kubang Pasu Umno Youth delegates meeting last Saturday.

"The issue of (Nazri's) sacking never came up. But we are not denying that there were branches that had approved such a resolution," he said.

Only five of the 96 Umno Youth branches in the Kubang Pasu Division had approved the resolution calling for the removal of Mohamed Nazri from his party position.

Two more branches, Kampung Wang Perah and Taman Mahsuri, wanted Mohamed Nazri be sacked from his ministerial post, and demanded that he make a public apology to former Umno president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"We received some 100 resolutions from the 96 branches, and most of them were requests," he added.

Ismail said each resolution submitted by the branches go through a screening process of a committee which would select three of the best resolutions to be debated at the divisional delegates meeting.

Asked on the status of the resolutions that touched on Mohamed Nazri's positions, he said these were subject to the decision of the Kedah Umno Youth whether it wanted to forward them to a higher level.-- BERNAMA

Aug 28, 2006

Extracted from NSTALOR STAR: From being a former prime minister and Umno president to a pariah, this is how Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad described his situation nowadays.

Dr Mahathir, who once ruled the party and the nation for 22 years, said he was insulted that the party was now trying to gag him.

And he was upset at what he deemed a new party culture whereby those who wished to speak up were censored and heaped with insults.

"This seems to be the new party culture. They prevent members from speaking up and only those who support them get to speak.

"I am the former party president yet they don�t want me to talk to the members. I can�t even meet them. Universities are barred from inviting me and newspapers are prevented from reporting about me.

"I am becoming a pariah in the party," he said at the Sultan Abdul Halim airport here.

When asked about Kubang Pasu Umno Youth, which passed a resolution calling for his biggest critic � Minister in the Prime Minister�s Department Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Aziz to be sacked from the party and Cabinet � Dr Mahathir said he did not care either way what happened to Nazri.

Dr Mahathir who recently announced his plans to become a delegate at the party�s general assembly in November, said he would raise a number of issues if given a chance to speak at the event.

However, he said there were plans to stifle him. "I know they will cut me out. Even if I am selected as a delegate, I may not get a chance to speak as the Menteri Besar (Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid) may not choose me."

KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysia's ethnic Chinese party pledged its support for the dominant UMNO Sunday after the ruling coalition was rocked by a row triggered by the prime minister's controversial son-in-law.

Khairy Jamaluddin, 30, a businessman and ambitious emerging politician, has already been forced to deny that he is the power behind the throne in the face of concerns about his influence over Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

In the latest upset, Khairy caused uproar in the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) by saying that if the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) became weak other parties could seize the opportunity to make demands.

Khairy, who is the deputy leader of UMNO's influential youth wing, said this could lead to instability in the multi-ethnic National Front coalition.

The balance of power between the races is an extremely sensitive issue in Malaysia, where the population is dominated by Muslim Malays living alongside ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities.

MCA members have demanded an apology from Khairy, saying that the party had always stood firm behind its coalition partner and that his comments had hurt the feelings of the Chinese community.

In a bid to lessen the row, Abdullah said Sunday at MCA's annual general assembly that all parties should stop raising sensitive issues related to religion and race.

"Do not create a situation that can lead to difficulties. Difficulties will make everyone apprehensive," the premier said in an opening speech.

He said that any attempt to amend controversial articles in the constitution related to race would "cause a storm if left unchecked".

The MCA also attempted to calm the issue, pledging its support for UMNO's role as the linchpin of the coalition.

"MCA, as the political representative of the Chinese community, would want to see a stable and strong UMNO," president Ong Ka Ting told the assembly. "We stand by together and provide support."

Extracted from NHK NewsPolice: Mitsutoyo provided expertise for nuclear-related equipmentTokyo police say a Japanese precision instrument maker suspected of having exported devices suitable for use in developing nuclear arms also provided the expertise necessary to use them.

The president of Mitutoyo Corporation, Kazusaku Tezuka, and four other firm executives were arrested on Friday on suspicion of illegally exporting three-dimensional measuring devices to a subsidiary in Malaysia in 2001.

The order for the devices was placed by a Malaysian company believed to be linked to Abdul Qadeer Khan, a Pakistani scientist known for his illicit dealings in a global nuclear black market.

Tokyo police say employees of the Mitutoyo subsidiary visited the Malaysian company and provided it with an informational video explaining the device's use.

Police say one of the devices was later shipped to Libya. They are now probing if know-how on the devices may have been leaked to Libya as well.

Tokyo police arrested the president and four other employees of precision instrument maker Mitutoyo Corp. for allegedly exporting equipment with atomic weapons applications to a Malaysian firm that is suspected of dealing in the nuclear black market, officials said Friday.

A device to take three-dimensional measurements that can be modified to make nuclear weapons appears in a Mitutoyo Corp. brochure.

One of the devices was found to have been used in Libya's abandoned nuclear arms program, and another one is suspected of having ended up in Iran's hands.

The Metropolitan Police Department arrested Mitutoyo President Kazusaku Tezuka, 67, and Vice Chairman Norio Takatsuji, 71, who was president of the firm when the equipment was exported, along with three other employees, on suspicion of violating foreign trade control laws.

Mitutoyo is suspected of illegally exporting two three-dimensional measuring devices that can be used in the manufacture of nuclear weapons to Malaysian subsidiary Scomi Precision Engineering Sdn. Bhd. in October and November 2001, trade ministry official Hiroyuki Murakami said.

The devices map cylindrical shapes in great detail and cannot be exported without government permission, according to officials from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The most advanced versions of the machine can be used to determine the dimensions of centrifuges used in uranium enrichment, Murakami said.

According to police sources, the devices were ordered by Scomi Precision Engineering, which is suspected of dealing on the nuclear black market set up by Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan.

One of the devices was sent to Libya, via Dubai, aboard an Iranian-registered ship, the sources said.

The devices were discovered at a Libyan nuclear facility by International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors during IAEA checks from December 2003 to March 2004, the sources said. Libya abandoned its nuclear weapons program in December 2003 and subsequently allowed IAEA inspections of its nuclear facilities.

Malaysian police cleared Scomi of allegations that it knew the parts were bound for Libya and were intended for use in its nuclear weapons program. The company claimed it thought the devices would be used in the oil and gas industry in Dubai.

Mitutoyo failed to provide accurate information on the capabilities of the two devices in its export declaration, according to the police sources.

They added that video showing Mitutoyo employees briefing the Malaysian company on the use of the measuring devices was also found in Libya.

Police also suspect Mitutoyo may have exported similar equipment to a company connected with Iran's nuclear program through an Iranian trading house based in Tokyo. Police searched the office of the unnamed trading house, located in Shibuya Ward, on Friday.

Also on Friday, police raided the head office of Mitutoyo in Kawasaki, following up on an earlier raid in February over suspicions the company had exported similar devices to Japanese companies in China and Thailand in 2001 without permission.

Mitutoyo denied at the time that it had tried to evade the law. The company also claimed it was conducting an internal probe of its export and other procedures.

Mitutoyo, established in 1934, is a leading manufacturer of precision measuring machines and runs a network of research institutes and factories in more than 20 countries. It had consolidated sales of about 107 billion yen in fiscal 2006, which ended in March.

Japan's technological capabilities make it an attractive place to shop for countries or groups seeking nuclear weapons.

Extracted from BERNAMAPM Says Khairy Himself Should Clarify His sensitive Statement

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Umno Youth deputy head Khairy Jamaluddin should himself clarify his statement that is said to have offended the Chinese community.

"The statement has been made. I do not know what he had actually said but this is a matter that Khairy himself has to respond to and clarify," he said.

Abdullah, who is Umno president and Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, said Khairy could explain the actual meaning of his statement, which might differ from what had been reported in the media.

It was reported recently that Khairy, the son-in-law of the prime minister, had said that the Chinese community would take advantage of Umno if the party was split.

BN component parties MCA and Gerakan reacted to the statement and it was a hot topic at yesterday's MCA Youth assembly where the delegates wanted Khairy to make an open apology to the Chinese community.

Speaking to reporters after launching the exhibition of the 2006 Putrajaya National Water Colour Painting Competition at the National Art Gallery here, Abdullah reminded BN leaders to exercise caution when making statements lest they give rise to misunderstanding.

"A cautious approach is most important because in the BN we have parties that represent the various communities and when any sensitive statement is made they will surely react to such a statement," he said.-- BERNAMA

KOTA TINGGI: Unusual and inappropriate ... these were among the views of several Umno leaders of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s intention to offer himself as a delegate to the party’s general assembly in November.

However, the party will not prevent the former Umno president from doing so.

“It has never happened in the history of Umno that former prime ministers and former Umno presidents would contest to be among the seven division delegates,” said Umno Supreme Council member and Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.

He advised Dr Mahathir to think about his action of contesting as a delegate.

On Friday night, the Umno Supreme Council decided that Umno should not prevent Dr Mahathir from contesting as a delegate, and its president, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, said it was up to the Kubang Pasu Umno division to decide. Dr Mahathir is a member of Kubang Pasu Umno.

Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yakob said after opening the Kota Tinggi Umno delegates meeting: “It’s not surprising, but it (Dr Mahathir’s offer) is rather unusual. And Umno wants to know why Dr Mahathir is willing to do it, as well as the issues he wants to raise and his motive.”

In Kota Baru, Umno vice-president and Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Ali Rustam said he personally felt that Dr Mahathir’s action was inappropriate for someone who had held the post of Umno president.

“We have to remember that he was the prime minister for 22 years and there are some in our generation who don’t know any other prime minister besides him.”

In Yan, Kedah, Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Aziz Shamsuddin hoped that the issue between Dr Mahathir and Abdullah would be resolved immediately because both of them had important roles to play in the country.

JITRA, Aug 26 (Bernama) -- The Kubang Pasu Umno Youth Saturday accepted without debate a motion submitted by five of its branches calling for Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz to be sacked from Umno for having been rude to former prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Two other branches, Kampung Wang Perah and Taman Mahsuri, wanted Nazri to be sacked from his minister's post and make an open apology to the former president of Umno.

Kubang Pasu Umno Youth head, Zulkifli @ Mohd. Ros Ahmad, said the motions were made because the branches held Dr Mahathir in high esteem.

At the same time, he said the division also saw Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as a leader who was committed to his task and had effectively discharged his duties since taking over the leadership of the nation from Dr Mahathir.-- BERNAMA

Aug 26, 2006

Well, I dont see any leaders in China waving "pedang kungfu" in their political general assembly.

Inilah, Malaysia BOLEH!.Excerpt from MalaysiaKiniUmno Youth chief Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said he has no problems if a pedang kung fu (Chinese martial arts sword) is used to symbolise a cause on the part of any Chinese component party, when quizzed by reporters at a press conference at the MCA youth general meeting today.

Hishamuddin, who raised controversy with his ketuanan melayu (Malay supremacy) statements, did a double take, and explained away the meaning behind last week’s function where Penang CM and Gerakan deputy president Dr Koh Tsu Koon raised a large mock keris together with the Umno youth chief.

“Using the keris as a symbol is not a problem. Even Koh himself used the keris. This is an obselete concept of the younger generation, that a object such as the keris would belong to a particular group,” Hishamuddin told reporters.

“Even if a pedang kung fu was used, this would not pose a problem to us,” he said, adding that the real issues are the issues raised by the youth chief, which are issues that are close to the hearts of the Tiong Hua (Chinese).

Hishamuddin said the use of keris is not a problem and that in fact it’s not the sole right for the Malays to use it.

In the 2005 Umno general assembly, Hishamuddin had brandished the keris while calling for the restoration of the NEP as part of the National Development Policy (NDP). It was then implied that the keris symbolised the role of Umno Youth in championing the Malay race.

His deputy, Khairy Jamaluddin then also mooted the revival the New National Agenda (NNA), a revision of sorts for the of the NEP.

Extracted from TheStarTajol: Dr M should not attack Abdullah in public

JELI: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad should refrain from hitting out at Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in public as it is tantamount to embarrassing the latter.

The former premier should voice his disagreements with Abdullah’s policies in private, in a four-eyed meeting between the two, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd Tajol Rosli Ghazali said.

“It is akin to parents scolding their child. How would a child feel if his parents scolded him in public? I posed this question to a Malaysian studying in Melbourne recently,” he said.

“She answered that she would feel offended or ashamed. Earlier, she had questioned why there was no democracy in the country.”

Similarly, it is natural for Abdullah to feel slighted by Dr Mahathir’s public attacks which have put the two in the global spotlight, Tajol said after opening the Jeli Umno division delegates conference here.

Although every leader in Umno was indebted to Dr Mahathir for his 22 years of leading the country, loyalty must prevail to the party and present president Abdullah, Tajol said.

“Nobody is wrong in the ongoing rift, it is a difference of viewpoints but the arguments should not openly continue,” he said.

Tajol, who is a supreme council member, also said Kelantan Umno must stay united if it hopes to recapture Kelantan.

Perak Umno was appointed by the council to adopt Jeli and Tanah Merah divisions as part of efforts to provide moral support and guidance to the party’s strategy in regaining Kelantan.

According to Tajol, both divisions are Umno strongholds, so Perak Umno does not anticipate any problems in the two areas.

"He has the secret documents? How could he have obtained them?" the Prime Minister told reporters after chairing a meeting of Umno's Supreme Council here.

Abdullah was asked if the government would give a written assurance to Dr Mahathir to protect him from prosecution under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) if he (Mahathir) revealed proof that Malaysia was the one who offered to sell sand to the republic during negotiations between Malaysia and Singapore for a bridge to be built to replace the existing causeway linking the island with Johor.

Abdullah earlier had asked why Mahathir should be afraid of action being taken under the OSA if he merely wanted to reveal the evidence.

"Why should we charge him under the OSA?" he asked.

Abdullah said the government had no problem in accepting the evidence from Mahathir if it was proven that the latter indeed had it.

"If he wants to hand it over, we don't have any problems with that," he said.

Dr Mahathir before this had said that he had with him documents that would show that it was Malaysia which offered to sell sand to Singapore but feared that action might be taken against him if he were to reveal them.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 (Bernama) -- Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said it is up to the Kubang Pasu Umno division to determine the position of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who has expressed his intention to be a delegate and speak at the party's general assembly in November.

"The Umno Supreme Council (SC) is of the view that Tun Dr Mahathir has the right to become a candidate for election as a delegate to the forthcoming Umno assembly.

"However, it's up to the Kubang Pasu Umno to decide," he told reporters after chairing the Supreme Council meeting at the Umno headquarters, here late Friday night.

When asked whether the SC would have any problem when Tun attends the assembly, Abdullah who is also the Prime Minister said: "This is a matter for the State Liaison (Body) to decide in accordance with established practice for so many years."

When asked what he meant by established practice, he said: "He (Mahathir) is eligible to be considered (to attend the party's assembly as a delegate) but we leave it to the State Liaison (body) to decide."

When asked whether the general assembly would be an appropriate platform for Dr Mahathir to speak, Abdullah said: "Don't ask me that. You have to ask him."

"We don't hold the meeting to give an opportunity to any particular person. It is the respective (state) liaison body that decides on who will speak," he said.

When asked if he would have any problem if Dr Mahathir were to attend the general assembly in view of the fact that the former prime minister had been very critical of the present government, Abdullah said he had no problem with that.

"If he is coming why should I have a problem? I have my duty, I'll do whatever I can, I'll do whatever I am supposed to do," he said.

He also dismissed any notion that there was hostility between him and his predecessor, adding in jest that something was wrong with the people who assumed that.

"Whenever I meet him (Mahathir), I never fail to shake hands with him," he said.

Earlier, Abdullah said the divisional Umno meetings were progressing smoothly so far and based on reports from the meetings, all the divisions had expressed solid support for the present party leadership.-- BERNAMA

PENANG, Aug 25 (Bernama) -- Former Lord President Tun Salleh Abbas has been told to stop speaking out about his sacking from the judiciary in 1988.

Minister in Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Aziz said Salleh should not keep raising the "old issue" as it could undermine the judiciary.

As former head of the judiciary, Salleh should be able to know whether the issue was of public interest or otherwise.

"I am not saying something that does not make any sense. The public must have faith in the judiciary. He (Mohd Salleh) should stop making public statements on this matter," he said.

Mohd Nazri reiterated that the sacking of Salleh and two Supreme Court judges would not be reviewed.

"The government decision on the matter is final... there is no reason to reopen the case," he said.

Recently, Salleh said he concurred with the Malaysian Bar Council president Yeo Yang Poh that the 1988 crisis in the judiciary should be reviewed.

He was also quoted as saying that his sacking and that of two other judges was wrong. He also said the crisis was triggered by the late judge Datuk Harun Hashim's strong comment against the government which cancelled the visa of two journalists from the Asian Wall Street Journals.-- BERNAMA

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 24 (Bernama) -- Umno Youth Chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said he considers the issue evolving around his deputy Khairy Jamaludin's remark that downplayed the role of other Barisan National (BN) component parties, as having been resolved.

He said discussions with counterparts from the other component parties had been held, and all agreed that the issued had been resolved.

"I do not think we need to play up the issue any more," he told reporters after witnessing the 24th Royal Trophy National Oratory final competition here Thursday.

Hishammuddin said he planned to ask Khairy to elaborate further on the issue at an Umno Youth meeting, whose date he would decide later.

The Education Minister said it was suggested that the meeting be held after the Youth movements of the MCA and MIC had held their respective general meetings this Saturday.

MCA Youth Chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai had said yesterday that the movement respected Umno Youth's stand and it held the opinion that all problems could be overcome at the Youth levels without affecting unity.

He said the issue, which evolved around the content of Khairy's speeches at Umno meetings including one in Kedah last Friday that had offended leaders of BN component parties, could be resolved amicably.

Khairy in his speech during these meetings had repeatedly stated that Umno was the backbone of the BN's strength and not other component parties.

A local Chinese daily had reported negative reactions of leaders from other BN component parties on the remarks made by Khairy.

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad said an independent body should be formed to investigate Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s alleged involvement in the United Nations Oil for Food Programme scandal.

In what appeared to be one of his harshest attacks against his handpicked successor, Mahathir argued that government officials should not be involved in any commercial transactions.

Responding to a question on the scandal at a press conference in Kedah yesterday, the former premier said he was only aware of the matter after stepping down in 2003.

“When I was PM, I was not aware (of this) ... only after I stepped down was the (UN) report made (public). What is important is not whether he (Abdullah) is a beneficiary or not but as a deputy prime minister - or anyone who holds a (government) position - he should not be involved in any commercial transactions.

“It looks like he was involved. How far he was involved, I don’t know ... but I think there should be an investigation by an independent body, not by those under him,” he said.

Mahathir added that Indian cabinet minister Natwar Singh had resigned when his name also appeared on the report.

Although two of Abdullah’s relatives were implicated in the scandal, the premier was however later cleared of any involvement by the UN.

His relatives were identified as Faek Ahmad Shareef, an Iraqi immigrant who was married to Abdullah’s sister-in-law but later divorced, and Noorasiah Mahmood, the sister of Abdullah’s late wife Endon Mahmood.

It was reported that the duo, through a Malaysian trading company called Mastek, were allegedly the biggest bribe-giver to the illicit oil-for-food deal involving deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian ex-premier Mahathir Mohamad wants to attend a crucial meeting of the country's ruling party in November, setting the stage for a showdown with his successor turned rival.

In recent months Mahathir, 81, has launched a series of bitter attacks on the government of his handpicked successor Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, over a range of issues, including a decision to scrap plans for a bridge to neighbouring Singapore.

Mahathir, Malaysia's longest-serving leader who retired in late 2003 after 22 years in office, still wields considerable influence within the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) headed by Abdullah.

"I am thankful that my name has been proposed as a delegate," Mahathir told a gathering in his northern home state of Kedah late on Wednesday. "I give you my assurance I won't pull out." UMNO, with about 3.3 million members, is the backbone of the ruling National Front coalition that has governed Malaysia since independence in 1957.

Under UMNO's system, only 2,292 delegates can attend the party assembly, and even fewer are allowed to address it.

"I probably can't say anything," Mahathir told reporters, when asked if he wanted to address the meeting. "If I am allowed to speak I will speak. It is not certain yet."

The lengthy squabble between the two leaders has worried some investors, but political analysts do not consider it threatens the government, with Abdullah seen as holding an overwhelming popular mandate following a landslide election win in 2004.

Last week, in the first government comments to so openly address the political risks, Abdullah's deputy warned that a rift between the top leaders of UMNO could split the organisation and threaten its rule.

"As long as we don't learn from history, we can repeat the mistakes," Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said, according to news agency Bernama. "We don't want the dark history to happen again in the party."

Abdullah is not due to call for general elections until 2008, but there is mounting speculation he might call for snap polls in 2007, at the earliest. These will be followed by UMNO party elections.

UPDATED!Extracted from TheStarDr Mahathir to contest post of divisional delegate

ALOR STAR: Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad says he will contest the post of divisional delegate to the Umno general assembly in November.

He said at least two branches in the Kubang Pasu Umno division had nominated him to stand as a delegate.

Each division is represented by seven elected delegates chosen from ordinary Umno members.

Six more delegates to the assembly comprise the division chief, deputy chief and vice-chairman as well as the Wanita, Youth and Puteri chiefs.

“Let me reassure you that I will not withdraw from the contest to be a delegate,” he said when addressing about 1,000 members of the Kedah Malay Assembly Hall at a hotel here yesterday.

At a press conference later, Dr Mahathir said he looked forward to representing the division at the assembly and would raise several key issues during the party assembly.

“I will not reveal now what I’m going to talk about at the general assembly. You will have to wait until that moment to find out,” he added.

Dr Mahathir also said he had heard that there were some parties who would “be approaching him soon” to urge him to withdraw as a delegate.

“If I withdraw from the contest, then there will be some people who will tag me as a pengecut (coward),” he said.

“So, for that reason alone, I have to attend the assembly if I win the contest to be a delegate,” he said.

Dr Mahathir reminded Umno members that the party’s struggles were not about an individual, but about Umno.

Dr Mahathir said he was sad that he had been accused of trying to split the party.

“I love Umno more than anybody else; and when the new Umno was formed in 1988, I was member No. 1 followed by my wife (Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali) who was member No. 2,” he added.

According to MalaysiaKini, AgendaDaily and a broken or missing link from BERNAMA, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Wednesday that he wants to be a delegate at the Umno General Assembly in November, and address the meeting as well. Tun Mahathir was speaking at a talk entitle "Cabaran Pembangunan Ummah" organised by the "Dewan Perhimpunan Melayu Kedah". (** watch the videos here)

Therefore, this November will definitely be a HOT month for Malaysia if Tun Mahathir is elected as a delegate.

Khairy trying hard to impress everyone. He tried to be clean. He tried be outspoken. But this time, he is in trouble again, and no help from the "keris man" a.k.a UMNO Youth Chief or his father-in-law a.k.a the Prime Minister of Malaysia.Excerpt from TheStarThe MCA Youth wants Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin to personally explain his remarks concerning the Chinese community at the Barisan Nasional Youth supreme council meeting.

MCA Youth chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said: “He has to be sincere and explain thoroughly via the proper Barisan Youth channel why he was misunderstood by the media, as he claimed."

Khairy, he said, should never repeat the same remarks again, quoting a Chinese saying that “the person who started the trouble should end it.”

“If he said he was misunderstood, tell us why he was misunderstood,” the Deputy Youth and Sports Minister told reporters after chairing the MCA Youth political bureau meeting at Parliament here today.

That is funny thing to tell the people after he has been the PM for nearly 3 years. Now only people realise that he is the PM of Malaysia or people actually dont, and that is why this statement is required?.

Extracted from BERNAMAAbdullah Says His Intention To Serve As The PM, Nothing Else

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 23 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Wednesday he carried out his duty as the prime minister in the interests of the country, people and religion and that he did not have any other intention.

"My job as the prime minister does not come with any other intention or objective," he said at a "Spirit of the Jalur Gemilang (National Flag)" gathering of taxi operators and drivers at Dataran Putra, here.

In that connection, Abdullah said, he would assist the people as much as he could.

For example, he said, he would make considerations and approvals according to his capacity pertaining to all requests and suggestions of the Taxi Operators and Drivers Association of Malaysia.

He suggested that every taxi be provided with a pictorial magazine of foodstuff, attractions and shopping centres to enable tourists have such information as soon as they board a taxi, particularly in view of Visit Malaysia Year next year.

Abdullah said the revenue from the advertisements in the magazine could be used by the association for the welfare of the taxi drivers.

He also suggested that a cassette with a compilation of local songs be provided in every taxi as a way of introducing the local arts to tourists using taxis.

"Taxi drivers must show courteousness and display a good image reflective of the people of Malaysia," he said.

The prime minister also advised taxi operators and drivers to ensure that their vehicles were clean and comfortable to ride in and performed well.

Abdullah said the taxi service was important because taxis were the first point of contact for incoming tourists.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 23 (Bernama) -- Can Asean tap the former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's 22 years experience in nation building and regional intiatives through the Eminent Persons Group (EPG)?

That's the mind-boggling question for Asean diplomats who believe the expertise of the man who was once instrumental in steering Malaysia's development should be utilised for the benefit of the regional grouping.

EPG comprises of highly distinguished and well respected citizens from Asean member nations with the mandate to analyse and provide practical recommendations on directions and the future of the Asean chapter relevant to the regional community.

Aug 22, 2006

I wonder whether Pak Lah possesses all the necessary qualities to be a leader as mentioned by Tun Mahathir.

Extracted from BERNAMAKUALA LUMPUR, Aug 22 (Bernama) -- After being in power for 22 years, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today outlined the qualities which a leader should have.

"A leader must know what his followers want. He must have the desire to succeed. He too must be innovative and not just do what others want him to do. Although he must be able to fulfill the desires of his followers, he must have a long-term strategy on how to achieve certain goals and aims," he said.

Mahathir, who stepped down three years ago after becoming the country's fourth prime minister in 1981, was answering a question from the floor after delivering a keynote address at the 35th International Federation of Training and Development Organisations (IFTDO) World Conference and Exhibition 2006 on Training and Development here.

He said a leader should also be experienced and have knowledge of several things and "if a mistake is made, it's still all right, it can be corrected but he should not repeat the mistake again and again. If he does it, then he is not a good leader".

"But if you ask your followers 'what do you want me to do', then you are not a leader but a mere follower...the leader here would be the follower as it is his idea that is implemented.

"A leader should also be someone who can self-evaluate and for this purpose you can't get someone else to evaluate for you...these are just some qualities needed to be a leader," he said.

-- BERNAMA

Excerpt from MalaysiaKiniAsked later if his speech was in reference to his successor Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his Oxford graduate son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin, Mahathir replied with a broad smile: “I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know...”

Mahathir has been crossing swords with the current administration over certain decisions, namely the scrapping of the half bridge project.

The former premier has also questioned Khairy’s influence over Abdullah, while other critics have labelled the 31-year-old Umno Youth deputy chief as the country’s de facto prime minister.